Fountain mop



4July E6, 1935.. A T. A. SHAW FOUNTAIN MOP Filed June 50, 1932 Patented July 16, 1935 vPATENT OFFICE A FoUN'rAINMoP Theodore'A. Shaw, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Champion Corporation ration of Illinois Chicago, Ill., a corpo- Y `Application June 30, 1932, `Serial No. 620,078

' 4o1aims. (o1. 15-12s) y This invention relates yto cleaningA mops, and particularlyto fountain mops of a character Well adapted forv cleaning railway cars, automobiles, trucks and other vehicles, and highly polished surfaces; I

One object of the'presentinvention is to provide a mop' structure adaptedto be connected to a source of supply`of cleaning 4 fluid such as Water, for example, 'and wherein the fluid is dischargedinto the `mop material at suitable points to insure' completesaturation of the effective cleaning or washing portion of the material. f

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of nozzle for insuring suitable distribution of fluid to the mop material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form and construction of mop material, and means associated .with the nozzle structure for maintaining the material against accidental displacement with respect to the nozzle.`Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a shield for deflecting water, away from the user, for

Y positioning the mop material with respect to the nozzle, Aand protecting the surface from contact with the nozzle. Y

` Another object of the invention is to provide a structure wherein the mop material adjacent the shield isv protected against any `abrading action thereof. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a, strong, durable device of the character described which will resist disintegration and rupture of the mop material and which will be eilicient in its operation.

A further object of the invention is to improve devices of the character described in sundry details hereinafterreferred vto and particularly pointed out `in the appended claims.

One embodiment of the presentuinvention is shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawing, in which .p

Fig.^1is an elevational view of acleaning mop embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectionalfview of the structureshown in Fig. 1, and illustrating more in detail various novel features characterizing the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the. mop material structure forming a part of the presentinvention; and p Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises a substantially rigid tubular to be `cleaned member or handle 5 formed preferably of metal and bent to provide a transversely extending portion 6 adjacent one of its ends, and having a hose coupling 'I operatively related to its opposite end for receiving a hose (not shown) or other suitable conduit for conducting water or other fluid to and into the tubular handle. The'mernber 5 may be of any desired length, and mounted on the end of the laterally extending portion 6 of the handle 5 is a distributor or 10 spray head indicated as a whole by the numeral 8 and comprising a member 9 surrounding, and rigidly secured to the portion 6 by a flange I0 and annular bead or protuberances I I, the member 9 being provided with a downwardly extend- 15 ing flange or apron I2 adapted to be positioned within the wall I3 of a cup-shaped member indicated as a whole by the numeral Ihaving an imperforate bottom portion I5, thercup-shaped member I4 being secured to the flange or apron I 2 20 of the-member 9 by soldering, Welding or other suitablemeans. The ilange I2 of the member 9 and Wall of the member I4 are provided with a plurality of registering annularly spaced and radially disposed apertures or ports IE communi- 2'5 `eating with the interior of the head 8 and tubular handle E for ejecting iluid passing therethrough. Surrounding and secured to the laterally extending portion 6 of the handle by soldering or 3o otherwise, and in spaced relation with respect to the head 8 is a radially extending plate I'I preferably of somewhat greater diameter than the head '3, and positioned between the head 8 and plate :I'I in a manner to surround the laterally 35 extending portion 6 of the handle 5 is a strip of flexible mop material indicated as a whole by the numeral I8 and, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, comprises a plurality of braided tubular members I9 `connected together adjacent their central por- 40 tions by means of a tape 2i) stitched thereto and having a filler cord 2l positioned ybetween the tape'and braided members I9. Y

It`will be understood thatfthe strip of flexible mop material I8 formed in the manner above de- 45 scribed may be of substantial length, only a fragment thereof being illustrated in Fig. 3, and` that this strip with the braided members I3 folded upon themselves as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 is wrapped around the laterally extending portion E of the handle to provide a plurality of radially spaced laminations of the mop material strip as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the tape 2|) and filler cord 2| having positioned adjacent the upper edge of the laminations to provide a proas Water or the like, and wherein the spray head 8 is deeply embedded or positioned, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, in a manner to protect the surface being cleaned from contact with the head 8.

For securing the ilexible mop material I0 to the portion 6 of the handle 5, and above the distributor head 8, a metal strap 22 or other suitable band may be drawn tightly around the laminated por tion of the material in a plane between the head B and plate Il, and the ends of the Astrap 22 secured by a clamp 23 or other suitable means.

For securing the mop material against displacement annularly or around the laterally extending portion 6 of the handle 5, means shown, in the present instance, as a pin 24 may be positioned in the portion G in a manner to eXtend transversely thereof and into and through several laminations of the mop material as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that water or other cleaning fluid entering the handle 5 and head 8 will be discharged radially through the apertures or ports I6 formed in the head and into the mop material adjacent the upper portion of the free or loose ends of the members I8, thereby insuring complete saturation o1 the mop material and providing a suitable quantity of fluid for cleaning purposes.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described, as the same may `be variously modified. Moreover, all the features of the present invention need not be used conjointly, as the same may be used to advantage in variously dierent combinations and sub-combinations.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a device of the class described, the combination of a substantially rigid tubular handle having a laterally extending hollow portion formed thereon, a head adjacent the outer end of said lateral portion, a radially extending plate mounted on said portion in spaced relation to said head, a mop material comprising a strip formed of a plurality of flexible braided members connected together adjacent their central portion by stitching extending transversely of the members, said strip being folded along a longitudinal line adjacent its central portion and wrapped around said laterally extending portion of the handle to provide a plurality of radially spaced laminations, and means for securing said members to said lateral portion, said head having annularly spaced radially extending apertures terminating closely adjacent said mop material.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a substantially rigid tubular handle having a laterally extending hollow portion formed thereon, a head adjacent the outer end of said lateral portion, a radially extending plate mounted on said portion in spaced relation to said head, a mop material comprising a strip formed of a plurality of flexible braided tubular members connected together adjacent their central portion by stitching extending transversely of the members, said strip being folded'along a longitudinal line adjacent its central portion and Wrapped around said laterally extending portion of the handle and under said plate to provide a plurality of radially spaced laminations, means for securing said members to said lateral portion, and means mounted on said lateral portion and engageable with said laminations for securing the mop material against annular displacement with respect to said lateral portion.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a substantially rigid tubular handle having a laterally extending portion formed thereon adjacent one of its ends, a hose coupling adjacent the opposite end of said handle, a hollow head having radially extending annularly spaced apertures formed therein adjacent its periphery secured to the outer end of said lat eral portion, a radially extending plate mounted on said lateral portion in spaced relation to said head, a flexible water absorbing material comprising a plurality of tubular braided members connected together adjacent their central portions and surrounding said lateral portion of the handle beneath said plate, said members having their end portions extending below said head and freely movable With respect thereto, means positioned in a plane between said head and plate for securingsaid material to said lateral portion above said head and closely adjacent said apertures, and means mounted on said lateral portion and engageable with said mop material for securing the material against annular displacement with respect to said portion.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a substantially rigid tubular handle having a laterally extending portion formed thereon adjacent one of its ends, a hose coupling adjacentV the opposite end of said handle, a hollow head having radially extending annularly spaced apertures formed therein secured to the outer end of said lateral portion, a radially extending plate mounted onvsaid lateral portion in spaced relation to said head, a flexible Water absorbing mop material surrounding said lateral portion of the handle and comprising a plurality of braided tubular members, a tape extending transversely of said members and stitched thereto for connecting the members together adjacent their central portions, a ller cord positioned between said tape and members, said members having their loose unconnected end portions extending below said head, a band positioned in a plane between said head and plate for securing said material to said lateral portion above said head, and a pin mounted on said lateral portion and engageable with said mop material for securing the material against annular displacement with respect to said lateral portion.

THEODORE A. SHAW. 

